Introducing existing cat to 2 new cats

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Background:

ErrorCat has just turned 3, got her approx 2 years ago, who came together with another cat (not litter mates) Other cat died tragically in Feb, some may remember from the air rifle post I created.

We have now also adopted 2 young females (approx 11 months) who are litter sisters and get along well with each other.

We've isolated them in 'base camp' with all the stuff they need, and they are now very confident together (and so cheeky), and we've been feeding the 2 of them on the opposite side of a door to our existing cat, and wedged it open a crack so they can all get used to the new smells and hopefully associate them with the positive experience of being fed.

Existing cat and 1 of the new cats are curious about each other already (it's been 8 days so far) pawing at the door and the occasional chirp, so I think they'll probably get on, but the other new cat will not stop hissing and growling, and will bolt her food to finish first just so she can stare at older cat through the gap, which puts her off her food and she runs to hide, then runs from everyone. After a short time all is calm and all seem happy otherwise.

Just getting a bit frustrating, I know I have to go at the cats' pace, and I'm persevering through the routine. Just feels like the road to getting along for these particular 2 is a million miles away.

I've done some research and think I'm doing the right things (also tried site swapping - letting each roam in the other's territory to get used to smells when the resident is not around.) Are there any other techniques I could use? I know a certain amount of growling and hissing is to be expected, but it's hard to tell when they're ready for the next step.

TIA.

i would say after 8 days its time to open the door and just let them sort it out amongst themselves, the one whos hissing is by the sounds of it trying out to see who is top cat as cat society is female dominant, and she might be getting more hissy because she can see your resi cat but not get through the door, i would say you will probably find that for a couple of days you might get some stand off between the two but should settle down, personally i cant understand the seperating of new cats and resi cats who are going to live together anyway, mine are different ages and i foster kittens and i just let them loose from day one and they always jostle for position for a couple of days then just do a collective sigh and get on with each other

I suppose I'm just anxious myself because I don't want our resident cat to run away (we're keeping them all in the house for now, the new ones have never been outside yet either.) I just wanted to do things 'properly' but it might be prolonging the stress on them all, I reckon neither likes to be confined to a couple of rooms each. After the hissing, existing cat tries to lunge at the door, so I what I don't want is a bad fur flying fight. I just hope it's only going to be a stand-off. At the shelter, the new cats were mingling freely with other cats with no tension, so I know it's possible for them all to get a long, but at the moment, existing cat is defensive of her territory so I'm trying to be sensitive of that. I know they'll have to do it at some point, I guess the real question is when will I be ready to let that happen.

I'll possibly report back with the results!

www.catbehaviorassociates.com/how-to-introduce-a-second-cat/ This site looks good.

Since starting this thread, things have not improved so much. I'm still trying the gradual approach on the cats' own timescale. Existing cat has now seen the newbies in the same room (but they were safe in a carrier) But it's proving a bit stressful for existing ErrorCat. She now actively avoids her food if she knows the others are behind the door, because of a few nasty charging and hissing episodes. She just stares at the newbies til they've finished and then runs to hide. She's vomited after eating a couple of times I think due to stress, she's not ill otherwise. When she's in her safe space (My bedroom where the newbies aren't allowed yet) she is really happy and playful. I think I'll have to introduce newbies to my room so that ErrorCat1 understands she's sharing space now.

One positive is that she's stopped leaving her wees and poos uncovered, so it seems she's accepting that they're not going away. I expect some jostling for position but I'm quite anxious about fights, so I feel it's sometimes myself preventing things from going as smoothly as they could. Don't want either to feel like this isn't their home, and getting a bit upset wondering if harmony will ever happen.

The vomiting may well be because she is eating too quickly.

I'm afraid you really should have got kittens rather than older cats adult cats rarely accept newbies otherwise.

The new ones are 11 months old and still very kitten-like in their behaviour. Spayed of course but this obviously means they had reached sexual maturity so I know this is a more difficult match. Plus all 3 are female. I'm thinking it might be a better idea to introduce one new cat at a time, the more easy-going new one first. I had tried to find the best personality match, as individually they are all as playful and active as each other, (i.e. no rowdy young cat bothering a sedate older one), but I see they could be too similar thus increasing competitive instincts. I am trying to be positive that it will work, I'd like for them to be able to at least tolerate each others' presence but it's so disheartening to get a set back.

I got two young rescue cats and introduced them to my existing cat. She wasn't happy, but she's always been a bit (a lot) of a princess. The newbies have been here about 5mths now and they all get on okayish. There's still the odd spat and some swiping and hissing but there's also occasional cute cuddle piles and play. We mixed them straight away, but initially let existing cat sleep in our bedroom at night (because I was worried if they got into it I wouldn't be there to referee). Let them get on with it between them and sort out their 'ranking'. The longer your leave it whilst they're aware of each other may cause prolonged anxiety? Good luck!

Thank you. I was thinking that myself. The longer they are separated, the more each thinks "there must be something to be scared of otherwise why aren't I allowed in there?". I would love them to be good friends, but will be ok with toleration. I might try them with a short supervised 'free run' tomorrow and see how that goes. I think my anxiety about the whole potential of fighting is not helping. I know it always sounds worse than it is. I will hopefully report back!

Update: Let them all loose in the living room today after feeding breakfast on opposite sides of the door. There was an initial chase and spat, then all three sat in different corners of the room in a sort of 3-way stand off/truce, until the older existing cat lost interest and left the room! A success of sorts. I will keep up this short, supervised 'loose' visits for a while and see how it goes. Newbies are off to the vets for microchipping and vaccines tomorrow, so might not do a meet up then in case they smell different and put us back to square one. Feeling more optimistic though.

Also there's been no more vomiting from existing cat! She's eating well and is not scared to approach the bowl now, knowing the other 2 are there.

sounds like all will go well i have four cats of my own of different ages and two foster kittens at the moment and mine all seem to just get on with it, yes we have the odd spat but nothing major

Just checked out your photos issey, love how all your cats and fosterlings are just happily mingling about. I suppose when you foster you've not much choice but to throw them all together as with the potential rehomings at any point, you've not got the time to invest in this long drawn out introduction. I noticed too at the shelter I got the newbies from, that they were mingling quite freely with little trouble, so I am hopeful this will work. They do seem to sort things out themselves if left to get on with it, so I will try to relax a bit more. My anxiety wasn't helping them get on.

I think now you've mixed them in you should keep it that way, the time apart was long enough, and made them more anxious.

Your original cat would prob have been wondering what was going on, with all this separation, and she was prob pissed of at not being allowed in a place she was used to going in.

Cats don't always get on tho, my older cat just about tolerates our newer one.